Black walnut tree named “Beineke 12”

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of black walnut tree ( Juglans nigra  L.) which is distinctly characterized by extremely rapid growth rate, and excellent central stem tendency, thereby producing good timber qualities. This new variety of black walnut trees was discovered by the applicant near South Raub, Tippeconoe County, Ind. in a black walnut planting of seedling progeny from previously selected trees for outstanding timber production potential. This selection has been designated as BW509, a seedling progeny of BW 95 (unpatented) in records maintained by the applicant on the performance of this selection, and grafts made from the selection, and will be known henceforth as ‘Beineke 12’.

Latin name of the genus and species: Juglans nigra L.

Variety denomination: ‘Beineke 12’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra L.) was discoveredby the applicant near South Raub, Tippecanoe County, Ind. in a blackwalnut planting of seedling progeny from previously selected trees foroutstanding timber producing potential. This selection has beendesignated as BW509, a seedling progeny of BW 95, unpatented, in recordsmaintained by the applicant on the performance of this selection, andgrafts made from the selection and will be known henceforth as ‘Beineke12’. The male parent is unknown, as is generally the case with blackwalnut trees. (Beineke, 1989)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct cultivar of black walnut tree (Juglans nigra L.)which is distinctly characterized by extremely rapid growth rate,excellent resistance to anthracnose leaf disease, excellent central stemtendency, and excellent straightness, thereby producing excellent timberqualities, the trait of commercial interest. ‘Beineke 12’ was 9 yearsold when described at a location near South Raub, Ind.

After the original clone was selected, and assigned an identity numberof BW509 the aforesaid tree was reproduced by collecting scions from itand grafting these onto common black walnut rootstocks at West Point,Ind. These asexual reproductions ran true to the originally discoveredtree and to each other in all respects. A growth comparison between BW95and ‘Beineke 12’ could not be made at this site because BW95 was notplanted at South Raub or West Point and the original tree was cut down.However, since form is not site dependent, old form rating of BW95 onother sites can be used.

Color values used were from the Munsell Color Chart for Plant Tissues.However, color is too dependent on weather conditions and fertilizationto be consistent or distinctive. For example, leaves can be made adeeper green by applying nitrogen. Walnut tree leaves turn yellow as theseason progresses, especially if there is a lack of rainfall. As blackwalnut meats dry, they become darker. Simply being on the ground for aweek causes the outer shell to darken. Bark color involves many shadesof gray through brown and black.

‘Beineke 12’ is hardy un USDA zones 4,5,6,7, and 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing the timber form of ‘Beineke 12’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the leaves of ‘Beineke 12’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the nuts of ‘Beineke 12’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANTS

The botanical details of this new and distinct variety of walnut treeare as follows:

-   Tree:    -   -   Size.—Large, 36 ft. at 9 years; crown diameter of 15 ft.        -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Growth rate.—Very rapid, 34% larger in diameter than the            average of ‘Purdue 1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,543) grafts,            planted the same year on the same land. Diameter growth rate            (at 4½ feet above the ground) averages 0.770 inches per year            over 9 years, was 6.9 inches at 9 years.        -   Form.—Excellent timber form, 59.1% better than average of            the entire planting and the same as ‘Purdue 1’. Stem form            was obtained by subjectively rating the straightness of the            main stem on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 representing a            perfectly straight stem; 2, a slight crook or deviation of            the central stem; 3, about average straightness; 4, several            severe crooks or a single fork; and, 5, a very crooked,            forked and/or leaning central stem. ‘Beineke 12’ averages 1            on the 1 to 5 scale, while parent BW95 averaged 3 on another            site.

The trees of the present invention are grown in plantations, not in openfields (not natural stands). In plantations, trees are upright and haveno distinctive or characteristic crown shape because all branches areseeking to grow upwards.

-   Branches: Diameter depends on age and size of tree, varies from ½″    to 12″, bark color varies from grays to browns.-   Leaves:    -   -   Compound leaves.—Size — Large; average length — 17.55″;            width 8.73″. Compared to ‘Purdue 1’ (Plant Pat. No. 4,543),            the leaves of ‘Beineke 12’ are longer. ‘Beineke 12’ averages            3.05 inches longer than ‘Purdue 1’.        -   Leaflets.—Size — Average; average length — 4.43″; average            width 1.45″, average number of leaflets — 18.7 — lanceolate;            acutely pointed, rounded base. The leaflets of ‘Beineke 12’            are 0.06 inches longer and 0.05 inches narrower than ‘Purdue            1’. ‘Purdue 1’ has an unusually long, narrow leaflet            compared to most other black walnuts as does ‘Beineke            12.’‘Beineke 12’ averages 1.5 fewer leaflets than ‘Purdue            1’. Leaflet number appears to be a consistent trait within            tree and year to year.        -   Thickness.—Thin.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Margin.—Serrated.        -   Petioles.—Short.        -   Color.—Topside — dark green (5GY3/4 by the Munsell Color            Chart for Plant Tissues). Underside — light green (5GY5/4 on            the Munsell Color Chart for Plant Tissues).        -   Anthracnose resistance.—Excellent.-   Nut:    -   -   Size.—Large; average length — 1.4″; average diameter in            suture plane— 1.18″; average diameter cheek to cheek —            1.46.″        -   Uniformly of size.—Not much variation.        -   Form.—Rounded; flattened in suture plane. See FIG. 3.        -   Blossom end.—Pointed, acute.        -   Basal end.—Flat.        -   Thickness of shell.—Thick.        -   Ridges.—Sharp.        -   Color.—Mottled, 5YR3/2 and 2.5YR3/4 by the Munsell Color            Chart for Plant Tissues. The nut of ‘Beineke 12’ averages            0.35 inches shorter than ‘Purdue 1’ (Plant Pat. No. 4,543).            ‘Beineke 12’ averages 0.06 inches wider in the suture plane            and 0.21 inches wider cheek to cheek than ‘Purdue 1’.-   Nut with husk:    -   -   Size.—Medium; average length — 2.46″. Average suture plane            width — 2.16′; average cheek to cheek width — 2.32″.        -   Husk thickness.—0.92 inches.        -   Form.—Almost round except basal end protruding.        -   Blossom end.—Rounded, slightly indented.        -   Basal end.—Protruding.        -   Surface.—Smooth, not waxy, slight warts.        -   Color.—Greenish-yellow, 2.5 GY 7/10 by the Munsell Color            Chart for Plant Tissue. The nut in the husk of ‘Beineke 12’            is about the same length as ‘Purdue 1’ (Plant Pat. No.            4,543). ‘Beineke 12’ averages 0.29 inches wider in the            suture plane and 0.26 inches wider cheek to cheek than            ‘Purdue 1.’ The husk of ‘Beineke 12’ averages 0.17 inches            thicker than ‘Purdue 1’.-   Flowering habit:    -   -   Age at which trees start producing catkins.—Early, 5 years.        -   Number of catkins produced.—Few.        -   Age at which trees start producing pistillate            flowers.—Early, about 6 years.        -   Number of pistillate flowers produced by young trees.—Few.        -   Lateral shoots producing pistillate flowers.—None.        -   Number of pistillate flowers per inflorescence.—2.-   Flower season: Flowers typically in May in Indiana. There are    probably 1-million pollen per catkin. Female flowers are about 1/16″    long and grow to two “pollen pick up points” which subsequently    break apart. Pollen exists as “dust” which is not feasible to    quantitate.-   Nut crop:    -   -   Bearing.—Biennial.        -   Productivity.—Low.        -   Ripening period.—Middle October.        -   Evenness of maturity (period between first and last nuts are            ready for harvest).—Even.        -   Quality.—Good.        -   Distribution of nuts on tree.—Throughout.

GENETIC METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION

DNA “fingerprint” for identification of ‘Beineke 12’:

DNA was isolated from the leaves of ‘Beineke 12’. For purposes of DNAfingerprinting, eleven highly polymorphic loci from a suite ofmicrosatellites developed by Woeste et al. (2002) were chosen.Microsatellites sizes were checked against previously publishedstandards and verified by a second independent analysis. The“fingerprint” is the collection of microsatellite allele sizes at eachlocus for ‘Beineke 12’.

DNA was isolated from the leaves of 4 black walnut trees obtained fromWalter Beineke using CTAB extraction buffer (50 mM TRIS-HCL, pH 8.0, 20mM EDTA, pH 8.0, 0.7 M NaCl, 0.4 M LiCl, 2% SDS, 2% CTAB, nd 1% PVP).After isolation the DNA from each tree was quantified and diluted withmanopure distilled water to a final concentration of 5 ng/microliter.The samples were stored in 96-well plates at −20 degrees C.

For purposes of DNA fingerprinting, eleven highly polymorphic loci froma suite of microsatellites developed by Woeste et al. (2002) werechosen. Amplification of each locus was performed with an MJ ResearchTetrad Thermocycler (Waltham, Mass.) using 10 microliter reactions in96-well plates. The PCR reaction mix contained 2 microliters of theaforementioned black walnut DNA, 5 microliter Sigma Taq ReadyMix (SigmaAldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), 0.4 microliter of a 20 pmol mixture of forwardand reverse fluorescence labeled primer, and 3 microliter PCR gradewater supplied with the Sigma ReadyMix. PCR amplification was for 30cycles of 94 degrees C. for 20 sec, 55 degrees C. for 30 sec, and 72degrees C. for 1 min. All primers were annealed at 55 degrees C. Theproducts were then held at 4 degrees C. until aliquots could be loadedinto 6% Long Ranger (polyacrylamide) denaturing gels (BMA, Rockland,Me.). For each individual 0.5 microliter PCR product was added to 0.75microliter blue dextran and 0.25 microliter of CXR 350 bp LadderStandard (Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, Calif.) in a new96-well plate. The samples were denatured for 2 min at 95 degrees C. andloaded onto a CAL96 96-well laminated membrane comb (The Gel Company,San Francisco, Calif.). Electrophoresis was at 3,000 V, 60 mA, 200Watts, 50degrees C. for 2 hours using an ABI 377 (Perkin Elmer) with 36cm plates and 0.2 mm spacers. The resulting data was analyzed usingABI's GeneScan 3.1.2 and Genotyper 2.5 (Perkin Elemer). Microsatellitesizes were checked against previosuly published standards and verifiedby a second independent analysis. The “fingerprint” is the collection ofmicrosatellite allele sizes at each locus for each tree.

Locus Forward (SEQ ID NOS: 1-10) WGA6 CCATGAAACTTCATGCGTTG WGA24TCCCCCTGAAATCTTCTCCT WGA27 AACCCTACAACGCCTTGATG WGA32CTCGGTAAGCCACACCAATT WGA72 AAACCACCTAAAACCCTGCA WGA89ACCCATCTTTCACGTGTGTG WGA90 CTTGTAATCGCCCTCTGCTC WGA97GGAGAGGAAAGGAATCCAAA WGA69 TTAGTTAGCAAACCCACCCG WGA76AGGGCACTCCCTTATGAGGT WGA82 TGCCGACACTCCTCACTTC Locus Reverse (SEQ IDNOS: 11-22) WGA6 CATCCCAAGCGAAGGTTG WGA24 TTCTCGTGGTGCTTGTTGAG WGA27TGCTCAGGCTCCACTTCC WGA32 ACGGGCAGTGTATGCATGTA WGA72 ACCCATCCATGATCTTCCAAWGA89 TGCCTAATTAGCAATTTCCA WGA90 TACCTGCAACCCGTTACACA WGA97TTGAACAAAAGGCCGTTTTC WGA69 AGATGCACAGACCAACCCTC WGA76CAGTCTCATTCCCTTTTTCC WGA82 CGTGATGTCGACGGCTG

The best interpretation of the current data indicates that theprobability that any other black walnut tree would have the collectionof microsatellite allele sizes listed is estimated to be less than3×10⁻¹⁴.

Sizes (bp) of microsatellites at 11 loci used to fingerprint ‘Beineke12’ (2 alleles at each locus).

Microsatellites used to fingerprint ‘Beineke 12’:

WGA6 WGA24 WGA27 WGA32 WGA72 142 142 238 242 229 233 175 183 149 149WGA89 WGA90 WGA97 199 199 152 158 155 155 WGA69 WGA76 WGA82 172 176 232236 180 196

DOCUMENTS CITED

Beineke, Walter F. (1989) Twenty years of black walnut geneticimprovement at Purdue University North. J. Appl. For. 6:68-71.

Woeste, K., Burns, R., Rhodes, O., and Michler, C. (2002) Thirtypolymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci from black walnut. Journal ofHeredity. 93:58-60.

1. A new and distinct variety of black walnut tree named ‘Beineke 12’substantially as illustrated and described, which has excellent timberquality, extremely rapid growth rate, and excellent central stemtendency.